So much more than just a bracelet Bracelet brand HIRSCH ships its superior products from Klagenfurt in Austria to retailers and watchmakers around the globe. Now, the family-owned business reveals the secrets behind 250 years of ground-breaking success. TEXT: SONJA IRANI | PHOTOS: HIRSCH ARMBÄNDER GMBH
Founded in 1765, high-quality leather working has always been at the heart of the family-owned business that is also known as the trusted partner of the high-profile Swiss watchmaking industry. Now in its eighth generation, CEO Robert Hirsch continues the company’s tradition of constantly striving for improvement and actively contributing to new developments in the industry. Thus, these days the traditional leather comes with some modern tweaks and add-ons. “Today, comfort is just as important as a pretty outer appearance,” explains Birgit Nicolelli-Fulgenzi-Laßnig, manager for corporate communication at HIRSCH. “Therefore, we only use materials that are soft and pleasant to wear. In addition to leather, our range includes our very own caoutchouc mix as well as technically intriguing textiles.” This approach led to the innovative HIRSCH Performance Collection. Introduced in 2014, it combined the “best of
24 | Issue 31 | October 2015
both worlds” – leather and caoutchouc – and thus created a completely new and unique product. The Performance Collection instantly enthused both the international specialised trade as well as the watch industry and even won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award for Product Design out of 5,000 submissions. One of the bestsellers among this collection is the‘Duke’. A classic Italian calfskin leather bracelet with natural-looking alligator embossing, a semimat surface and a pleasant Softglove lining leather, the ‘Duke’ is always in season. For those who would like a‘Duke’or other ‘Performance’ style themselves, there is good news: It has never been easier to get your hands on a true HIRSCH. All products of the HIRSCH brand can be purchased from over 16,000 leading jewellers, their online shops and a selection of additionally certified online stores in 85 countries worldwide.“Through our British subsidiary, our bracelets are also available in the UK,”
states the corporate communication manager and adds with a smile:“We often hear that our British customers really appreciate our high-quality products. Such feedback makes us happy.” www.hirschag.com
Top: Viscount Alligator, alligator skin (left) Lucca, textured leather (middle) Ayrton, textured leather (right)